The Muslim Cultural Centre of Ljubljana, completed in 2020, is home to one of the most beautifully designed modern mosques in Europe. The modern design and a thin, sharp minaret makes you think you entered a rocket launch facility.

Located in a semi-industrial area of the Slovenian capital, the mosque, which can hold up to 1,400 people, is the heart of the six-building Islamic Cultural Centre. All of the buildings are made from white concrete, combined with elements of steel, glass, and wood. Inside the mosque, a large blue dome makes a bold statement. Other features include the main prayer hall, a standalone minaret measuring 40 meters in height, an educational center, a gym, a park, and a restaurant. 

The Ljubljana Mosque is the first mosque in the country. The Muslim community in Slovenia has been working towards its construction for decades, with the first request to build a mosque filed in 1969, when Slovenia was still part of former Communist Yugoslavia. The community finally received permission in the early 2000s, but ran into opposition from right-wing groups who tried to stop the project, but the courts denied their requests. 

After plans to build in a different location fell through, the mosque’s location was acquired in 2008 and its foundation stone was laid in 2013. The mosque opened to the public in February 2020. It cost a staggering 34 million Euros to build, with the a large portion of that money donated by Qatar. The rest was raised by the Muslim community in Slovenia.